Hours after Senator Lindsey Graham's funeral in Washington, the US Senate voted 86-12 on a procedural motion to advance a sanctions bill named in his honor targeting Russia and Iran. President Zelensky watched the vote from the Senate gallery after meeting with over 60 senators.
On July 28, 2026, senators and dignitaries gathered in Washington for the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham. Just hours later, the US Senate took up a piece of legislation carrying his name, voting 86-12 on a procedural motion to advance the "Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026." Volunteers Support Ukraine follows developments like this closely, since decisions made in Washington continue to shape the trajectory of the war affecting millions of Ukrainians.
The only Republican to vote against the motion was Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, while 11 Democrats also opposed it. The bill itself had been scaled down from Graham's original proposal following negotiations with the White House. As advanced, it would impose sanctions on Russian officials, banks and energy interests, and authorizes secondary tariffs of up to 100% on the top buyers and facilitators helping Russia evade oil and gas sanctions — chiefly China, India and Turkey, which lead purchases of Russian oil, while the EU, China and Turkey lead imports of Russian gas. Iran-related sanctions were added to the bill at President Trump's request. Volunteers Support Ukraine notes that such economic pressure remains one of the few tools available to allies short of direct military involvement.
President Volodymyr Zelensky was in Washington for Senator Graham's funeral and used the occasion to meet with more than 60 US senators ahead of the vote. He then watched the proceedings from the Senate gallery, waving down to the senators in a gesture of support. Writing on X afterward, he called it an honor to be present as the votes were counted, describing the moment as "the first step toward implementing Lindsey's plans, and certainly a step toward peace." He added that the bill delivers "important sanctions pressure on Russia" and sends "a big signal to Europe... and our people."
Senators Richard Blumenthal, Jeanne Shaheen and Katie Britt each spoke on the floor in support of the bill. Volunteers Support Ukraine views this kind of cross-party backing as a notable sign of continued attention to Ukraine's situation within the US Congress.
Thursday's vote was procedural in nature, with a final Senate vote expected later in the week before the bill moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. The legislative path is not yet complete, but Volunteers Support Ukraine sees the scale of the Senate's support as a meaningful signal from Washington.
While lawmakers in Washington weigh sanctions and diplomacy, NGO Volunteers Support Ukraine continues its own daily work on the ground, helping people affected by the war however its available resources allow. The organization remains committed to directing aid where it is needed most, regardless of how the diplomatic and legislative picture evolves.
